Help with new Electrum installation

[vladman]

Hi,

Sorry, I'm sure this isn't too complicated, but I'm paranoid when it comes to bitcoin and want to make sure I don't do anything silly...

This is the scenario:

One PC. Used to run Windows 7. Electrum version 3.0 (I think). I've since added another SSD to this PC and installed Windows 10 on it, and now boot off of that SSD and use Windows 10 as my main OS, but I've left the old SSD with Windows 7 connected, in case I need anything from it while I transition.

So, I want to install Electrum on the new SSD with Windows 10 and use it from there (and have it show my old funds) from now on.

When I download the new 3.3.6 installer, after running it, it wants either to create a new wallet, or for me to specify the file I want it to use. What should I do at this point? Manually copy the wallet file from the Windows 7 disc (and put it where)? I have the password, seed, etc.

Many thanks.

[AB de Royse777]

Manually copy the wallet file from the Windows 7 disc (and put it where)?

Yes you can do this.

I have the password, seed, etc.

Since you have seeds then recovering the wallet should be easier for you. You can use this method too.

On a side note, have you verified the downloaded Electrum exe file? If you have not done it yet then please do it for the sake of the security. Here is a tutorial which may help: https://bitcoinelectrum.com/how-to-verify-your-electrum-download/

Once you verify the signature then install the application again. Remove the old installation.

Another side note: Do not keep the wallet DAT file in your Windows 7 drive if you are not planning to use that anymore. Once you copy and paste the file to Electrum folder in your SSD then delete the drive file if this is not in use however do not forget to keep a backup of the DAT file in a safe device also the seed in a safe place.

[djhomeschool]

Manually copy the wallet file from the Windows 7 disc (and put it where)?

Yes you can do this.

I have the password, seed, etc.

Since you have seeds then recovering the wallet should be easier for you. You can use this method too.

On a side note, have you verified the downloaded Electrum exe file? If you have not done it yet then please do it for the sake of the security. Here is a tutorial which may help: https://bitcoinelectrum.com/how-to-verify-your-electrum-download/

Once you verify the signature then install the application again. Remove the old installation.

Another side note: Do not keep the wallet DAT file in your Windows 7 drive if you are not planning to use that anymore. Once you copy and paste the file to Electrum folder in your SSD then delete the drive file if this is not in use however do not forget to keep a backup of the DAT file in a safe device also the seed in a safe place.

? Electrum wallet.dat file?

As far as i know Electrum does not create .dat files for the wallet, just wallet files without extention.

[AB de Royse777]

? Electrum wallet.dat file?

As far as i know Electrum does not create .dat files for the wallet, just wallet files without extention.

The extension is the .DAT :-) Yes, you are right.

Edit: I am starting to believe that you are right however I always knew every file has a file extension. I am digging.
Edit2: Yape I confirm that there are not file extension for Electrum wallet file.
Post undated.

[djhomeschool]

? Electrum wallet.dat file?

As far as i know Electrum does not create .dat files for the wallet, just wallet files without extention.

The extension is the .DAT :-)

Edit: I am starting to believe that you are right however I always knew every file has a file extension. I am digging.

No.... Electrum does NOT use any extension.
The standard wallet is "default_wallet" in the wallets folder without extension.

By the way: There have been cases with problems importing seeds from Electrum older versions into newer versions so be VERY careful and ALWAYS backup the wallet files before you do anything.

[vladman]

djhomeschool and Royse777,

Thank you both.

Yes, my file (default_wallet) doesn't have an extension... I also always thought every file had an extension...

I will follow the verifying instructions and then give this a go... The one thing I'm a little confused about is that I should place the file wherever I want... Shouldn't Electrum decide where it should go? I know it's probably not important, just feels slightly weird. What if I let the new installation create a new default wallet, and then somehow import the old one in? Or is that more complicated and/or unnecessary?

Thanks again.

[djhomeschool]

djhomeschool and Royse777,

Thank you both.

Yes, my file (default_wallet) doesn't have an extension... I also always thought every file had an extension...

I will follow the verifying instructions and then give this a go... The one thing I'm a little confused about is that I should place the file wherever I want... Shouldn't Electrum decide where it should go? I know it's probably not important, just feels slightly weird. What if I let the new installation create a new default wallet, and then somehow import the old one in? Or is that more complicated and/or unnecessary?

Thanks again.

Standard location for Electrum files is C:\Users\YourPCUserName\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\

The wallet file(s) are located in C:\Users\YourPCUserName\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\wallets

Replace "YourPCUserName"

If you just install a new Electrum version it will use the standard location and upgrade your wallet file(s) if needed. I just install the new version over the old one but i make a backup of my wallet file(s) first and delete them if installation was ok.

[vladman]

dj, yes, thanks, I've located the old file in my Windows 7 installation...

Like I said, should I manually copy that file, or let the new installation (on the new drive with Windows 10 on it) create its own new default_wallet, then somehow replace it with the original, or import the original...?

Thanks.

[AB de Royse777]

I also always thought every file had an extension...

I thought the same until my last post LOL

I should place the file wherever I want...

I think you can if you want to then you will need to locate the file when you open it.

Shouldn't Electrum decide where it should go?

By default it does here:
Drive:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\wallets

What if I let the new installation create a new default wallet, and then somehow import the old one in? Or is that more complicated and/or unnecessary?

You can create as many wallets as you want. You don't even need to keep the files if you keep the back up off the seeds of the individual wallets. Always make sure that your seeds are in the safe place.

[djhomeschool]

dj, yes, thanks, I've located the old file in my Windows 7 installation...

Like I said, should I manually copy that file, or let the new installation (on the new drive with Windows 10 on it) create its own new default_wallet, then somehow replace it with the original, or import the original...?

Thanks.

Best is to make a new wallet and import the seed, just select "I already have a seed" when asked.
You can delete your old default_wallet file on your Win7 PC when it worked.

[Abdussamad]

when you run electrum and it shows you that install wizard dialog you can click on the browse button to choose a specific wallet file. alternatively file > open in the electrum main window lets you do the same thing.

also file > save copy is handy for saving wallet files and saves you from digging through the file system looking for it.

restoring from seed is not recommended because you will lose metadata like transaction and address labels.

[pooya87]

FWIW the only thing file extensions do is that they tell your operating system which installed application to use to open these files when you double click them. since you don't really want to do that, you can skip setting an extension for the wallet files and that is why you can do things like renaming a text file to have a .mp4 extension and still open it with a text editor and see the same thing.

restoring from seed is not recommended because you will lose metadata like transaction and address labels.

all of them can also be exported from the Wallet menu (of course it is easier to just use the same file but the option is there)

[vladman]

Hi guys,

Right, so I've placed the old wallet file in the correct location for the new Electrum installation, fired it up, and it all seems fine (I was a little surprised it didn't ask me for a password, seed or anything, just opened up), my history and balance show, except it shows a small amount of BTC (still not negligible) as unconfirmed , in the bottom status bar of the main window, and the balance is showing the amount I should have, minus the unconfirmed amount.

Why would this be? All the historic balance changes in the main window show a green checkmark next to them, I can't find an entry that doesn't. Also, at the top of this list, there are several entries that under the Date column just say "Local". I don't understand what this is, as this is different from my old version of Electrum (3.0.1 on Windows 7) and wasn't showing there. The last of these "Local" entries shows the correct balance on the right. However, the balance amount in the status bar in the bottom shows the total amount less the mysterious small unconfirmed amount.

I should add, prior to doing this, I loaded up my old Windows 7 and ran Electrum there and it was showing the correct balance as it should and always have (I've mined BTC some years ago, and my balance hasn't changed since then).

Thanks very much for your help.

P.S. Please bear in mind, even though I have several decades experience in IT, I built my own mining rig and mined BTC, I still (sadly ) don't understand the inner workings of Blockchain, how wallets really work, etc, to a degree I wish I did, so please don't get too technical or advanced in your replies.

EDIT: I've totted up the amounts the "Local" entries show, and their total is the sum of the unconfirmed amount. No idea what all that means.

[bob123]

Usually 'local' means, it is a transaction which you have created (and saved on your local disk) but didn't broadcast yet.

Just to confirm.. the 'local' is beside a 'receiving transaction' of yours  Because this would seem odd.
If so, what do you see when you check the balance of such an address on a block explorer ? Does it show a receiving transaction with the same amount ?

[vladman]

How strange!

When I closed Electrum (after starting it the first and only time after installing it and pointing it to my old wallet file - I also left it running for about an hour, and the unconfirmed/local amount was still showing), and then reopened it again, all is well, no local transactions are showing, and my balance is correct.

Thanks very much everyone for your help.

BTW, I notice my wallet file is unencrypted - should I encrypt it?

[TryNinja]

When I closed Electrum (after starting it the first and only time after installing it and pointing it to my old wallet file - I also left it running for about an hour, and the unconfirmed/local amount was still showing), and then reopened it again, all is well, no local transactions are showing, and my balance is correct.

It probably had some synchronization issue that was picking up the tx as unconfirmed - which should be confirmed already - and thinking it was a local tx because of that.

BTW, I notice my wallet file is unencrypted - should I encrypt it?

Do it. No outsider can access your wallet this way.

Just click on "Wallet" -> "Password"; and set up a password. That will encrypt it.

[vladman]

Do it. No outsider can access your wallet this way.

Just click on "Wallet" -> "Password"; and set up a password. That will encrypt it.

I already have a password set up though?

[TryNinja]

I already have a password set up though?

You probably didn't left the "Encrypt wallet file" box checked up when setting up your password.

Click at the "Lock" icon at the bottom-right corner, set up your password again (it can be the same) and check "Encrypt wallet file".

[AB de Royse777]

How strange!

When I closed Electrum (after starting it the first and only time after installing it and pointing it to my old wallet file - I also left it running for about an hour, and the unconfirmed/local amount was still showing), and then reopened it again, all is well, no local transactions are showing, and my balance is correct.

Thanks very much everyone for your help.

BTW, I notice my wallet file is unencrypted - should I encrypt it?

Finally!!! :-)

Good to hear that you got your wallet back.

Now I will suggest to save the seed in a separate place (may be write it down in a paper and keep it safe) so that next time you do not have to go through importing files instead you can recover your wallet using the seed.

Wallet > Seed

[bob123]

~snip~
Now I will suggest to save the seed in a separate place (may be write it down in a paper and keep it safe) so that next time you do not have to go through importing files instead you can recover your wallet using the seed.

Wallet > Seed

He had access to the seed the whole time.
He mentioned it in the OP:

I have the password, seed, etc.

OP, if everything has been resolved (including the encryption of the wallet file), please lock this topic.
You can lock it by scrolling down and clicking 'lock topic' at the bottom left corner of this page.